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Trouble is starting for our favourite Phantom. Hope you like this chapter, don't hesitate to leave a review, I love them :)

Erik let himself drop on his freshly made king size bed, exhausted by the eventful day he had just passed. A mid-aged woman and her daughter had knocked on his door about three hours after the unfortunate encounter with his terrible neighbour. They were dressed in rags and appeared malnourished, the young daughter explained that they had lost everything in a huge fire that also took the life of her father and little brother. Ever since they have been looking for work from town to town.

"We arrived in Biarritz yesterday and almost got cast away from the City Hall's threshold. But we had time to pick the announce and… Well we'll work hard Monsieur, I am young and healthy and my mum, even if she doesn't speak French very well, she has already worked as a maid for the Marquis d'Arcangues. But he dismissed her because he didn't want any servant that spoke bask, he was afraid they would plot against him… My mum had never wished evil on anybody, she's the best mother one could hope for Monsieur…" Her blue eyes sparkled with unshed tears, she was quite tall and had a strong accent that he had never heard before. She had her mother's nose, a bit too big for her angular face.

"There's a lot to do as I have just arrived yesterday. See this week as your trial. Grab some breakfast and put yourself at work. I want my bedroom ready for tonight. You will address me as Monsieur, what are your names?"

"I am Izarra Etxaberria and my mother is Maider Etxaberria. Oh eskerrik asko jauna! Thank you Monsieur, Amatxi, Ongi Da!" She told her mum with a bright smile, letting her tears finally stream down her cheeks in happiness.

"You'll celebrate after your day at work, follow me I will show you the third floor. It is where you will stay." He said, his face as emotionless as his mask.

At first the two women had had a movement of recoil seeing the mask of their potential employer, but the fact that he hadn't drove them out of his property was enough. He had been kinder than all the rich owners they had been talking to. They were safe and they had to earn their place to the side of their mysterious master.

Erik was happy to have let the two women a chance, they had been more efficient than he could have dreamt, Maider had even brought him a tisane after dinner, which had been a thousand times more appreciated than the visit of his infuriating neighbour.

He let out a sigh of frustration, he had managed to forget about her by busying himself, but now that he was relaxing she had to annoy him again. He hadn't hated someone as much in a long time… He had been rude, but she had been worse. He had no reason to see her in the next weeks as he would look for a work. She said she owned half of the city but there was no chance she would take part in all the organisation part, she was a woman dammit.

The next morning, he woke up early, as usual, and before even having breakfast, he went strolling in the small streets before the city was awake. That's how he found the small, in comparison to his house, but beautiful Hotel Particulier in the rue du port Vieux that belonged to a Monsieur Antonio Moretti, architect. Well, that was a start he thought. He knocked on the door, and then realised that it was only quarter to eight.

The city had begun to stir, but no one had paid attention to the tall stranger with a hat hiding most of his face.

He hoped that the early hour would not sabotage his first impression, which was usually quite a shock for the person in front of him.

An old butler opened the door and asked about his identity, he let him penetrate within the propriety and left him to wait in a big antechamber with marble checkerboard pattern on the floor. It was decorated with a lot of taste and he saw that if the architect was very thorough on his house decoration he would likely be someone interesting to work with.

Heavy footstep coming from the living room interrupted him in his musing, a man of short stature appeared in front of him. His skin was darker than the elite standards of the period, his dark eyes scanned him with intensity. He had a straight nose and remained quite good looking despite the fact that his waist had grown larger with the years. He talked with an heavy Italian accent, there was no doubt it was Monsieur Moretti.

"Good morning Monsieur, could you tell me to who do I owe the pleasure at such an early time?"

This comment managed to make Erik feel uneasy, it was the first time he had to face someone and ask for a proper job. Indeed, assassin doesn't count as a proper job, let alone Phantom of the Opera... His hands were damped, he was gradually stressing and he didn't like it. He felt just like the two women that had begged him to become his employees. He set aside his insecurities and started to talk, with as much confidence as he could gather.

"My name is Erik de Raincourt, I have just settled in the villa on the little hill, parallel to the Hotel du Palais. I have been an architect for almost my whole life, abroad in general. I have brought some drawings with me as I had hoped to work for you. I get tired if I do nothing of my life and I have an obsession for beauty and perfection." He stated, faster than his usual talking pace.

"Well well well." He said taking the little briefcase from Erik. "Follow me on the terrace we will review your work around a cup of coffee. I never start talking business without my coffee. François could you bring us the breakfast please?" He addressed his butler before turning his heels and heading towards the balcony, quite quickly for his small height – he couldn't be higher than 6'5.

The man turned out to be very pleasant to talk with, he had a lot to say and to tell. His story was impressive, bankrupt and forced to flee Italy after the death of his wife 15 years ago, here he was, between Biarritz, Bayonne and Bordeaux, one of the most fashionable architect of the region. Erik admitted that his work was very good and that his sense of aesthetic was similar to his own. After two hours of unceasing chat, the man told him that he was more than happy to take him under his wing for the first projects and then let him fly away if he managed to impress him. Erik let the ghost of a smile illuminate his face.

"Were you at the war Monsieur?" He waved at his mask. Shit. Erik gnashed his teeth in contained anger, why on Earth do people have to ask? He breathed slowly, the way Jeanne had showed him to calm his temper.

"No Monsieur, it is unfortunate that I have borne this mark since my birth. I don't have the excuse that honour and sacrifice for our country caused this wretched wound. If it is a problem for you then I will leave and you won't see me ever again." He stated coldly.

The answer he got from the man was a pat on his shoulder and an enthusiastic statement:

"No offense wanted, dear associate, I just cared to know more about the man I am about to work with to build the most beautiful buildings the city has ever seen."

Erik relaxed a bit and nodded. He was about to take his leave when furious heels mounted the stairs and burst into Moretti's office. Oh God, not her…

"How dare you? When would you stop making my life a nightmare Padre? Was ruining my innocence not enough that you have now to ruin my business? I have just heard that the two architects I had hired were to withdraw from the Casino Bellevue project to serve one of your stupid aristocratic house? I need to be ready for the season, this bloody old English man didn't even give you any deadline…" Some hair strands were falling from her tight bun, her cheeks had taken a rosy colour from anger and exercise. She was quite sight, Erik thought, except that she had destroyed every bit of beauty in her by opening her mouth.

Monsieur Moretti didn't answer at first and was about to say something when she noticed Erik. She furrowed her brow and spat:

"You…"

"Me." He said raising an eyebrow, he was almost amused that she was at a loss of a word seeing him. Her father interrupted the weird exchange by speaking apologetically.

"I am sorry Piccin… Hortense. I needed them to check an unanticipated problem in the foundation. I will send them back in a couple of day once everything is back to normal. I don't know, I had sent a word to your house asking about it a few days ago"

"You're always sorry anyway, as for the letter, well she must have fallen to the trash." She said smugly, however her eyed betrayed a deep hurt. Her father was starting to get angry too, he said harshly:

"Well I won't say I am sorry again, but as you don't want to talk to me and our business often cross over it makes things harder for both of us! I just want you to listened to me, I have tried for years to show you how much I felt guilty about this decision. Non avevo scelta."

"Maybe you should try by telling me why you didn't have the choice… But I don't want to make a scene today."

You're already making a scene, Erik sneered.

"I am tired Padre, and I have much to do, so find a solution and I'll make sure to do my part of the job that takes into account communicating with you for emergencies and business related things."

"Why did you have to take your mother's temper?" he muttered for himself.

"Well, I have a solution: Monsieur de Raincourt has just started working for me and he's very talented, he will help you in the time being. And it seems that you already have met so…"

"NO!" Was their spontaneous answer. They stared in awe at each other, at least they agreed on one thing. They didn't want to work together.

The only problem was she had no choice, if the refurbishment took more delay she would be very embarrassed for the launch of the season which was in less than two months. Oh god she had to work with the infuriating man that was standing next to her. She took a quick look at him and decided she had to do it.

"Well, after careful overall reflection, I can't afford to say no. I can't believe this is happening, and once again because of you Padre."

"What? And who cares about my opinion in all that?" Asked Erik startled.

"See it as your first task, surviving under my daughter's command. Good luck, I hire you full time if you succeed." He whispered as close to Erik's ear as he could, which made the former Phantom smirk.

The whole scene almost made her complain again but she decided that she would stop. That's what Joséphine had advised her to do, try to see the positive in everything, stop complain and accept what happens to you. Easier said than done…

"I accept" Erik said, moving his hand forward.

She first stared at it with displeasure but finally accepted to shake his hand. What she didn't expect was the bolt that went through her body at the contact of his warm skin. Their eyes met in incredulity before they quickly removed their hand like burnt by fire. She shook her head and turned on her heals, walking quickly toward the staircase to hide her trouble.

"Padre, I bid you good luck with your frivolous house, I am leaving." She stopped before the first step and stared at Erik with challenge in her sparkling eyes. "Follow me if you please, Monsieur de Raincourt. We have lost enough time for today and we need to put ourselves at work."

I should never ever have listened to that damn old woman and stayed hidden… I guess fate is punishing me for my sins…

Were his last bitter thoughts before he quietly thanked Monsieur Moretti and stormed out of the room.

I have actually spent time looking at the bask language to make sure the names and sentence were accurate. A lot of people from the country side didn't speak french at the time. I have been to an office in bask when I was there, and I must say that, sang, this language is a regal for the ears! I invite you to check!

Amatxi, Ongi Da means in bask, mum it's all good (we're saved).

Non avevo scelta is the Italian to say I didn't have the choice.